Our mission requires that, in a radical way, we follow Jesus who was chaste and poor and who redeemed mankind by his obedience. That is why, through a gift of the Father, we choose the way of the evangelical counsels.
(Constitution 12)
On Holy Thursday, April 11, 1816, Eugene and Henri Tempier took a further step in living the evangelical counsels by making a mutual vow of obedience.
Hence I considered choosing the evangelical counsels, to which they had been so faithful, as indispensable, lest our words be no more than what I have noticed about the words of those who proclaim the same truths, namely sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. My consistent thought has even been that our little family should consecrate itself to God and to the service of the Church through the vows of religion… Briefly put, Father Tempier and I felt that we should not delay any longer, and on Holy Thursday … we pronounced our vows with an indescribable joy.
Eugene’s Memoires, quoted in Rambert, I p. 187
Each time we renew our commitment as members of the Oblate Family, we are asked to recall this founding inspiration.
